BGM Bears Dance Team earns top honors at state dance championships

​       The BGM Bears Dance Team participated in the 50th Annual Iowa State Dance/Drill Team Association’s (ISDTA) Championships, Dec. 3 – 5. Pictured are, from left, front row: Madelynn Doty, Taelyn Garringer, Connie Schott. Back row: Amelia Davis, Mira Beaderstadt, Kaida Kilmer and Dance Coach Mickella Lamb.

By ​J.O. Parker
 
     The BGM Bears Dance Team recently participated in the 50th Annual Iowa State Dance/Drill Team Association’s (ISDTA) Championships, bringing home three top honors. In addition, BGM had five solo performers who all earned Division I and II honors.
           The BGM Bears Dance Team also earned:
           Class II Jazz Division I, 11th place
           Class 1 Novelty Division I, 7th place
           Class I Lyrical Division I, 5th place. 
        In the solo competition, Madelynn Doty and Taelyn Garringer earned Division I ratings and Connie Schott, Mira Beaderstadt, and Kaida Kilmer earned Division II ratings.
          The dance team also brought home an Academic Award of Excellence for the team cumulative GPA with an average being 3.0 - 3.49. 
          Dancers included: Madelynn Doty, Taelyn Garringer, Connie Schott, Amelia Davis, Mira Beaderstadt and Kaida Kilmer.
          More than 250 high school and college teams with 5,000 plus dancers perform more than 600 routines in the three days of competition, Dec. 3 - 5, at Casey’s Center in Des Moines, making this the largest state dance competition in the United States.
         Teams are divided into classes based on school enrollment. They are evaluated and judged by industry professionals from all corners of the United States. Teams are divided into classes based on school enrollment.
            The BGM Dance Coach is Mickella Lamb.